Former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon
Former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, has praised the founding fathers of the Economic Community of West African States, describing their leadership and diplomatic foresight as critical to regional unity and cooperation in West Africa.
Jonathan made the remarks after attending the annual event and award ceremony of the Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria held in Abuja, where distinguished leaders who played key roles in the formation of ECOWAS were honoured.
In a post shared on X, the former president expressed satisfaction at participating in the event, stating:
“I was pleased to have attended the annual event and award ceremony of the Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria (ARCAN) in Abuja.”
According to him, the ceremony celebrated visionary leaders whose contributions shaped regional cooperation and diplomacy in West Africa.
“The occasion recognised distinguished leaders whose foresight, statesmanship and diplomacy were instrumental in establishing ECOWAS,” Jonathan said.
Among those honoured was former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, who received recognition for his role in the creation of the regional bloc. Jonathan congratulated the elder statesman, noting:
“I congratulated former Head of State, H. E. General Yakubu Gowon, who was honoured for the statesmanship that birthed our regional union.”
The ceremony also paid tribute to the late Gnassingbé Eyadéma, whose leadership in Togo contributed to regional integration efforts.
Jonathan highlighted the significance of the posthumous recognition, stating:
“The ceremony also paid posthumous tribute to the late General Gnassingbé Eyadéma, former President of Togo, for his shared role in architecting an integrated West Africa.”
The former Nigerian leader further commended ARCAN for preserving Nigeria’s diplomatic heritage and promoting regional unity. He urged the body to sustain its efforts in strengthening cooperation and stability across West Africa.
“I commend ARCAN for safeguarding our diplomatic legacy and urge them to continue working toward our shared prosperity and regional stability through a deeper sense of service and responsibility for our sub-region,” he added.
The event brought together retired diplomats, policymakers, and stakeholders who reflected on the achievements of ECOWAS and the importance of sustained collaboration in addressing regional challenges.
